First landrover.. help

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Is it worth restoring?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 100.0%

  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    4
Kimrow

Kimrow

New Member
Posts
8
Location
Derbyshire
Hey guys!

Hope I’m posting this in the right place..
I’ve recently acquired my first landrover. To be honest i don’t really know a lot about it other than it’s a defender of the year 1985. It’s been at a garage to be put through it’s MOT where it passed and had a new cam belt fitted. I was advised that the chassis needed wax oiling so it’s been at our local Landrover garage to have that done- they’ve advised that it needs a new chassis and bulkhead. Not knowing much about them I’ve got no idea where to start or whether this is worth doing. The cars done just over 50,000 miles. If anyone could offer some advice (and tell me anything about the car!) I’d be forever greatful!

Thanks in advance :)
Kim
 

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Using the gov.uk website to check its MOT history based on the registration number in your pics, the chassis was an advisory on the last MOT as being rusty all over. As it passed and does not show any excessive corrosion (and the history is not too bad) I would get someone knowledgable on defenders to look at it and assess its condition properly, but not a garage who will look to get you to spend shed loads of money. It might need no more than a good clean up and waxoyl, or similar. (By the way someone will be along soon to tell you its not a defender, its a land rover 90. They weren't called defenders until approx 1990 to distinguish it from the newly introduced discovery - or something like that).
 
As above - it's not a Defender - it's a 90...

As you've also found out, there are "garages", and "garages". Sadly, there are also "MOT" stations at various points across a spectrum of good to bad.

So, which garage told you "needs" a new XXX - as this, and a current MOT are pretty much mutually exclusive statements... You can PM me if you prefer :)

With that mileage, I'd suggest that it is always worth fixing due simplicity... However, if you are reliant on "garages", you'll probably need deep pockets and long arms :rolleyes:

The principal advantage of such simple vehicles is that they are very DIY friendly...

One last word of caution - you might find a garage who will condemn it, offer you a nominal sum for it, and then restore it, pocketing the profit for themselves... :mad:

Finally, you're not really in the right section :p - but hey ho :D Welcome aboard :):)
 
Thanks for the replies :) how embarrassing that I didn’t even know what model it is all really helpful advice, thank you! I was wondering how it could pass its MOT if the chassis was knackered. I’m picking it up from the landrover place tomorrow and have no idea what to do with it from there.. any idea of how I could go about finding someone that’s knowledgeable in the Derbyshire area to have a look at it? Also, which part of the forum would I be best posting in?
Thanks again for all your help, feeling very clueless x
 
Kimrow said:
Thanks for the replies :) how embarrassing that I didn’t even know what model it is l! all really helpful advice, thank you! I was wondering how it could pass its MOT if the chassis was knackered. I’m picking it up from the landrover place tomorrow and have no idea what to do with it from there.. any idea of how I could go about finding someone that’s knowledgeable in the Derbyshire area to have a look at it? Also, which part of the forum would I be best posting in?
Thanks again for all your help, feeling very clueless about the whole thing!
Click to expand...
 
Wimblowdriver said:
its not a defender, its a land rover 90.
Click to expand...
Disco1BFG said:
As above - it's not a Defender - it's a 90...
Click to expand...
Actually it's a Land Rover 'Ninety' :p;):D

Overall it look good but some photos of the chassis and bulkhead rust especially near the outriggers, spring hangers, rear crossmember and bulkhead corners esp around the windscreen would help.

Always an issue, a good looker sitting on a rusted out chassis :rolleyes:

Get a magnet and a small pin hammer, tap on suspect areas. Magnet to check if any filler used to hide holes esp bulkhead.

If it's just some plating and if you can do the work and weld it will not be too expensive but getting a garage to do it will cost; it's not just the welding it's all the prep, removal of things etc.

If the chassis if SNAFU then look to pay £4500-5000 for a galvanised replacement and fitting. Also consider that if doing it on a 1985 (same year as mine) then consider replacing common items such as brake lines, fuel lines, suspension, exhaust etc.

If you are really into Land Rovers (Defenders!) then it will be worth the effort but if you are not, and this is your first and you admit to knowing little about them, then it won't be worth it, unless you have deep pockets.

Good luck, post some pics of the rust and i'm sure you'll get some good advice.

BTW 2.25 petrol or diesel?
 
Kimrow said:
Hey guys!

Hope I’m posting this in the right place..
I’ve recently acquired my first landrover. To be honest i don’t really know a lot about it other than it’s a defender of the year 1985. It’s been at a garage to be put through it’s MOT where it passed and had a new cam belt fitted. I was advised that the chassis needed wax oiling so it’s been at our local Landrover garage to have that done- they’ve advised that it needs a new chassis and bulkhead. Not knowing much about them I’ve got no idea where to start or whether this is worth doing. The cars done just over 50,000 miles. If anyone could offer some advice (and tell me anything about the car!) I’d be forever greatful!

Thanks in advance :)
Kim
Click to expand...
I would treat that with caution. Very clean and straight on top, which often means it has been neglected underneath. Appearances mean not much with a Land Rover.
They rust, and that one is 36 years old, and the chassis has surface rust, which has now been coated with Waxoyl so you can't see how bad it is.

Do you know which engine option it has? Or has it been re-engined, and if so, with what.

Avoid unless very cheap, or at least as suggested, take someone who knows along to inspect.
 
Kimrow said:
I was wondering how it could pass its MOT if the chassis was knackered.
Click to expand...
:D
My current Ninety came with a fresh MoT ticket as part of the purchase. The lights and other dash electrics failed a hundred yards away from the collection point and the chassis was later found to have serious rot very carefully concealed. Common in trade purchases, a Stevie Wonder MoT :eek:

Your chassis might just be rusty although on a 85 plate it might be getting past it's best; the garage could be selling you a tale but it's big job to do for nothing.

For forum advice on this post here:> https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/defender-90-110-130.7/
 
It’s diesel. I know nothing about them but even I can see that it’s rusty which is probably a good indication that it’s not great :p there’s no way in a million years I could do the work myself so I guess I need to decide whether to fork out loads to have it all repaired or maybe sell it on to someone who knows what they’re doing with it :confused:
It has some small sentimental value to me but i wouldn’t say I’m interested in it enough to have a huge project (I was hoping to use it to tow my horse) I’ll try and get some pictures of the chassis and stuff tomorrow when I pick it up :) here’s a another couple of pictures of it I’ve just found.. it’s a shame because the inside is pristine and the milage is pretty low for its age isn’t it but I suppose with the age of it rust is to be expected x
 

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Hi and welcome!

The pics show a very tidy looking Landy which has been someone’s pride and joy. But underneath can be a different story...

Definitely get a second opinion on the condition of the chassis and bulkhead. A garage who doesn’t know landies could be quick to condemn it. But given the outward condition, a new replacement galvy chassis would add value to the vehicle.
 
Kimrow said:
It’s diesel. I know nothing about them but even I can see that it’s rusty which is probably a good indication that it’s not great :p there’s no way in a million years I could do the work myself so I guess I need to decide whether to fork out loads to have it all repaired or maybe sell it on to someone who knows what they’re doing with it :confused:
It has some small sentimental value to me but i wouldn’t say I’m interested in it enough to have a huge project (I was hoping to use it to tow my horse) I’ll try and get some pictures of the chassis and stuff tomorrow when I pick it up :) here’s a another couple of pictures of it I’ve just found.. it’s a shame because the inside is pristine and the milage is pretty low for its age isn’t it but I suppose with the age of it rust is to be expected x
Click to expand...
With a diesel the mileage isn't as much of an issue anyway.
If you've got an offer of help above I would def take it up! You really do need someone you can trust to look underneath at the chassis and also the bulkhead.
Try and get as much info as you can about the vehicle such as when the rocker gasket seal was last changed, oils and filters etc.
Welcome to the forum btw.
You will find this forum full of very knowledgeable people :)
 
Hi there and welcome
As others have said if it's passed a genuine MOT then it can't be completely knackered.
Surface rust may be unsightly but isn't serious concern unless it's left untreated. Even if a bit has rusted through, it's still often repairable
 
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